Note from Susan Mallery:
When Fresh Fiction invited me to share an exclusive excerpt from my new book, THE HAPPINESS PLAN, I knew immediately which scene I wanted to share. This is a pivotal scene from Chapter Three. This scene is what lead Heather to realize that she needs to come up with a happiness plan for herself. It’s filled with emotion—pain, longing, love (though she’s not brave enough to call it that)—and shows Heather at her most vulnerable. You’ve probably heard that writers like to torture our characters. That’s because when we make them earn their happy ending, it’s all the sweeter. I hope you’ll enjoy this sneak peek. The Happiness Plan is one of the most emotional stories I’ve ever written, and I can’t wait to hear what you think.
Sunday morning Heather couldn’t shake the sense of restlessness that had gripped her for days. She’d fed the kittens early and had made a to-do list for the day. She would do laundry, go for a run, get groceries and care for the kittens. Busy, busy, that was her. But even as she went through the refrigerator to figure out what she needed, she found herself glancing at the clock and thinking about what Tori had said about brunch.
She missed hanging out with everyone the way she had when she and Campbell had been together. She missed the sense of belonging and how they all treated her like she was totally normal. She missed the closeness, the laughter, having Campbell come over after so they could spend a couple of hours in bed.
She missed him and after all this time, she couldn’t help wondering if maybe she’d made a mistake when she’d ended things. The man had wanted them to move in together with the idea of getting married eventually. Was that so wrong? So twisted? She should have said yes. She could possibly, maybe, think about almost living with someone. How hard could it be?
She glanced from the unfinished grocery list to the clock and back, then tossed down her pen and ran to her bedroom. She dressed quickly, put on a little makeup and brushed her shoulder length blond hair. Would he notice her new bangs?
“Does it matter?” she muttered to herself. She grabbed her purse and her keys, called out to the cat that she was leaving and walked purposefully to her car before she could talk herself out of going.
She nearly turned around three times, but managed to drive all the way to his townhouse. As she parked, she wondered if he was even home. She no longer knew his schedule, so he could be spending the night in Wichita before flying home.
“One way to find out,” she said as she walked up to the front door and rang the bell.
Seconds later the door opened and Campbell stood in front of her, looking tall and handsome in jeans and a polo shirt.
Her heart unexpectedly fluttered and her palms got sweaty. The visceral reaction startled her, but also made her even more determined to just spit out the truth and get things right between them.
His brows drew together. “Heather? What are you doing here?”
“I, ah, wanted to talk to you.”
“This isn’t a good time.”
His voice was unexpectedly stern, which surprised her. “It’ll only take a second. Please?”
He hesitated, then stepped back to let her in. “I have five minutes.”
She nodded and followed him into the townhouse. He looked so good. Familiar. Campbell had always been there for her, had fallen hard, had spoken his feelings easily. She’d been the one who held back and the one who had walked away.
“I know I have issues,” she told him, twisting her fingers together. “It’s hard for me to trust anyone.” She drew in a breath. “Okay, nearly impossible, but the thing is I miss you.”
She paused, hoping he would say something, but his slightly impatient expression didn’t change.
“I thought maybe we could try again,” she continued, thinking she should have planned what she was going to say more than she had. Or at all. “I’ve changed.”
Which was a complete lie, but maybe if she worked on changing starting now, she could make some quick progress.
“I want to be like everyone else,” she told him. “You know, normal. With connections to people and feelings. I’m open to us living together if you still want that.”
Which was the most she’d ever offered. Would it be enough? Because if he asked if she loved him, she had no idea what she was going to say. She cared about him and wanted to get back together with him, but honestly, what was love?
He stared at her for several seconds, then shook his head. “You ended things three months ago and you’re just now thinking you miss me? What about the time before that when you announced, at my brother’s wedding, that we were finished? You’ve dumped me twice.”
He took a step back. “I’m done, Heather. I’ve moved on and even if I hadn’t, you’re too broken for me. I know a lot of the problem is what your mom did to you while you were growing up. I know it’s probably not your fault, but I can’t deal with you. Not again. You’re not what I want. I’ve found someone else and we’re happy.”
His mouth flattened. “I’m not trying to be a jerk. I’m telling you the truth. There’s no third chance. I hope you find what you’re looking for but it won’t be with me.”
The harsh words hit her like fists and she nearly doubled over from the unexpected attack. Air rushed from her lungs and the room spun. But on the heels of the pain came a need to run and hide. Standing there, she was too exposed, too out in the open. What else would he say? What other flaws would he bring to light?
She lunged for the door, pulled it open, ran to her car and got inside. She barely checked for traffic before heading onto the quiet side street. Home was her only safe space. She had to get there before she lost it completely. Not that there would be tears. She didn’t believe in them.
Too broken. Too broken. Too broken.
The words echoed over and over in her head. Shame engulfed her, nearly bigger than the hurt. All this time she’d thought he cared about her. He’d told her he loved her, he’d talked about forever, but he hadn’t meant any of it. He couldn’t have. Not when he’d figured out the truth she’d done her best to hide. She was too broken. Whatever mechanism made it possible for people to love was missing in her. Or it had been crushed by her upbringing. Or maybe both. She wasn’t sure it mattered. All she knew was that she’d both lost Campbell forever and had her deepest, most painful flaw laid out for all to see. And she had no idea which was worse.
Excerpted from The Happiness Plan @ 2023 by Susan Mallery, Inc, used with permission by MIRA Books.
Three women search for joy in #1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery’s new novel of hope, heartache, and the power of friendship.
Heather is happy . . . ish. She has a successful business, a cute but contemptuous cat, and best friends Daphne and Tori who know where she’s broken and love her anyway. So why does she feel crushed when her ex gets serious about someone new? No problem, she has a plan. More connections will hold her together while her world falls apart, so she finally reaches out to the stranger who might be her dad.
Daphne isn’t having an emotional affair, despite what her husband believes. He started the rift in their marriage when he said they weren’t ready for a baby. They used to be the closest couple she knew. Can they find their way back to one another before it’s too late?
When Tori forms an inconvenient crush on Daphne’s brother-in-law, she suppresses her feelings. Until her apartment floods, and she moves in with the dog-loving doctor. If things go wrong, she could lose her friends. . . but if they go right, she could lose her heart.
Women's Fiction Contemporary [MIRA, On Sale: June 20, 2023, Trade Paperback / e-Book, ISBN: 9780778333555 / eISBN: 9780369732859]
Susan Mallery is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of novels about the relationships that define women's lives—romance, friendship, family. With compassion and humor, Susan keenly observes how people think and feel, in stories that take readers on an emotional journey. Sometimes heartbreaking, often funny, and always uplifting, Susan's books have spent more than 200 weeks on the USA Today bestsellers list, thanks to her ever growing legions of fans. Susan lives in Seattle with her husband, two ragdoll cats, and a tattletale toy poodle. Animals play a big role in her books, as well, as she believes they're an integral component to a happy life.
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